Envelop-sealing device.



C. HANES.

ENVELOP SEALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. e, um.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

wi/lmwoao THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., \VASHINGTDN,

CHARLES EANES, 0F STIRLING, CALIFORNIA.

ENVELOP-SEALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 6, 1914.

cation.

This invention relates to envelope, and the object of the same is toprovide an improved sealing means whereby an envelop cannot be openedafter once being sealed without destroying the same or rendering it ofno further use.

Another object of this invention is the production of an envelop sealingdevice that comprises a pair of staple members so arranged incombination with a retaining plate as to securely hold the topflap ofthe envelop in engagement with the bottom flap and side flaps that thesame cannot be withdrawn from engagement with the abovementioned flapsafter once being sealed without destroying the envelop.

A still further object of this invention is the production of an envelopsealing means as above described that is simple in construction,eflicient in operation, consists of the minimum number of parts andtherefore can be manufactured for the minimum amount.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certainnovel constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts, as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing :-Figure 1 is a plan view of the reverseside of an envelop showing the improved device mounted thereon. Fig. 2is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detailedperspective View of one of the staple members used with this device.Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the retaining plate used with thisdevice. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the staple members usedwith this device.

Referring to the parts by reference numerals, the top flap of an envelopas shown is designated by the numeral 10, the bottom flap by the numeral11 and the side flaps by the numeral 13. It is, of course, understoodthat this envelop can be of any size or form.

The improved sealing device for an envelop is, as will be seen byreferring to Fig. 1, used adjacent the lower edge of the upper flapintermediate the length of the same and Patented Feb. 22, 191$.

Serial No. 870,658.

adjacent the upper edge of the lower flap 11 intermediate the length ofthe same and is in engagement with the side flaps 18 adjacent theirmeeting edges.

This sealing device comprises a primary staple member 1% that has asubstantially elongated body 15 and the ends of the same are bent at anangle thereto forming angularly extending portions 16 terminating intines 17. This member 1% is positioned on the interior of the envelop,and hasthe tines 17 passing through the side flaps 13 of the envelop,but the body portion 15 of the staple member 14 is held in spacedrelation to the inner faces of the side flaps 13 because of the factthat the shoulders formed at the juncture of the tines 17 and theangularly extending portions 16 engage the same, and

the body portion 15 is, of course, as described, held in spaced relationto the flaps 13. Interposed between the flaps 13 and the lower or bottomflap 11 is a retaining plate 18 that is provided with a pair ofapertures 19 adjacent the ends thereof and a pair of enlargedinterinediately arranged apertures 20. As will be seen upon reference toFig. 2, the apertures 19 adjacent the ends of the retaining plate 18 arein a path of the tines 17 of the primary inserted staple let, and thetines 17 pass through said apertures 19 and also through the lower flap11 that is positioned on the outer side of the flaps 13, and portions ofthe tines 17 are bent upon the outer face of the flap 11, as is clearlyshown. A second staple member 21 is provided, and shown to advantage inFig. 5, said member 21 having an upwardly extending tongue 2:2 and alsoa pair of inserting tines 23 bent from the body portion of the device.This second staple member 21 is positioned in the upper flap 10 of theenvelop, and the tongue 22 is inserted therethrough, while the insertingtines are passed through the flap 10 and the lower flap 11, and inasmuchas the enlarged apertures 20 of the retaining plate 18 are in the pathof the same, the tines 23 are passed therethrough and come intoengagement with the outer face of the body 15 of the primary insertedstaple 14': that is already securely held to the flaps 11 and 13, and bypressure upon the body portion of the second staple member 21, the tines23, that are in engagement with the body 15 of the primary insertedstaple member 14 are bent so as to prevent the withdrawal of the member21 from the envelop. 'lhis last operation, that of the insertion of thesecond staple member, is, of course, done when the envelop is filled.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an envelop sealing means hasbeen provided that will securely hold the cover or upper flap of thesame in engagement with the rest of the envelop and the only way to openthe same is to sever some part of the envelop, and thus render the sameof no further use.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of this invention without departing from the material partsthereof. It is therefore not wished to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

I claim The combination with an envelop having top, bottom and sideflaps, of a sealing means therefor comprising a primary staple, saidprimary staple having an elongated body portion, angularly extendingportions at the ends of said portion of said staple, tines running fromsaid angularly extending portions, said tines inserted through said sideflaps and said angularly extending portions engaging said side flaps andretaining said body portion of said retaining member in spaced relationthereto, a retaining plate inserted between said side and bottom flaps,

said tines of said primary staple member passing through said plate andthrough said bottom flap and bent so as to prevent the withdrawal of thesame, and a second staple member having insertible tines passing throughsaid upper flap and said lower flap and said retaining plate and inengagement with said primary inserted staple, whereby the same are bentto prevent their withdrawal. V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES HANES. Witnesses CLAY K. BUCHANAN, A. J. STOREY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of latents. Washington, I). G.

